Metaphorosis Reviews
Written on Feb 9, 2025
Summary
Attempting to summon a powerful demon, teenaged prodigy Eric ends up with dissheveled so-so wizard Rincewind instead. To everyone's surprise, Rincewind is able to grant wishes - just not in a...Read more
3 stars, Metaphorosis reviews
Summary
Attempting to summon a powerful demon, teenaged prodigy Eric ends up with dissheveled so-so wizard Rincewind instead. To everyone's surprise, Rincewind is able to grant wishes - just not in a way anyone wanted.
Review
Terry Pratchett does best when he’s creating an original story, like Guards! Guards!. His pastiches of well-known stories haven’t been as effective (with the exception of Wyrd Sisters). Here, the cover gives away that he’s aiming in the direction of Faust, and he brings back popular character Rincewind, but frankly the whole thing felt a little half-hearted to me.
There’s some good humour and both Rincewind and Eric are engaging enough, but the overall story framing (reforms in hell) felt thin and worn. Pratchett does seemingly take aim at some of his own quirks – e.g., constantly saying ‘wossname’, a joke that was once funny, but was wearing out, becomes a target in this book. And there are the usual situational jokes, often funny. But this isn’t one of the more stellar Discworld entries, especially after the excellent Guards! Guards!
Fine for Discworld aficionados, but very skippable for casual readers.
Summary
Attempting to summon a powerful demon, teenaged prodigy Eric ends up with dissheveled so-so wizard Rincewind instead. To everyone's surprise, Rincewind is able to grant wishes - just not in a way anyone wanted.
Review
Terry Pratchett does best when he’s creating an original story, like Guards! Guards!. His pastiches of well-known stories haven’t been as effective (with the exception of Wyrd Sisters). Here, the cover gives away that he’s aiming in the direction of Faust, and he brings back popular character Rincewind, but frankly the whole thing felt a little half-hearted to me.
There’s some good humour and both Rincewind and Eric are engaging enough, but the overall story framing (reforms in hell) felt thin and worn. Pratchett does seemingly take aim at some of his own quirks – e.g., constantly saying ‘wossname’, a joke that was once funny, but was wearing out, becomes a target in this book. And there are the usual situational jokes, often funny. But this isn’t one of the more stellar Discworld entries, especially after the excellent Guards! Guards!
Fine for Discworld aficionados, but very skippable for casual readers.
